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Screenshots without Miiverse

#1✎ 185ShellyOkay, so here it goes: Miiverse closed, we all know that. However, that also means that most programs will have to go without a screenshot for now on. That's why this thread is being posted. I found plans on the internet of a functional 3ds capture card, and this thread is for people who have soldering skills (and would be okay with making their own).
The plans are: http://optimize.ath.cx/cusb_spa3/src/cusb_spa3a.pdf and the website with more information is located here: http://optimize.ath.cx/ (activate google translate).
I really hope someone finds this thread helpful. Also, if you CAN take screenshots, please contribute to the community by taking screenshots of other people's programs, not just yours.
Notes about sourcing components: This design uses a Spartan FPGA, which can get a bit expensive (DO NOT BUY THE DEVELOPERS BOARD, YOU ONLY NEED THE IC).
Posted 4 months ago
Edited 4 months ago
by Shelly

#2✎ 56SimeonScholarReceived for knowing a great deal about programming topicsAchievementsAmazing PageHiddenAchievementsDrawingI like to draw!HobbiesDoes anybody own a capture card? That could make screenshots for submissions?
Posted 17 days ago

#3✎ 855snail_HelperReceived for being very helpful around SmileBASIC SourceAchievementsExpert ProgrammerProgramming no longer gives me any trouble. Come to me for help, if you like!Programming StrengthFirst DayJoined on the very first day of SmileBASIC SourceWebsite

Does anybody own a capture card? That could make screenshots for submissions?

The current news is that the next update of SB (3.7?) will contain a native screenshot feature. SmileBoom's tests indicate that it will use JPEG and have a similar (if not exact) quality to Miiverse, so they're probably leveraging a system API feature.
At any rate, there are far less expensive methods of obtaining screenshots, though perhaps less consistent, than a capture device.
Posted 17 days ago

#4✎ 103amihartJust homebrew your 3DS and you can not only do screenshots but you can do live game capture over WiFi and it's pretty fast and reliable.
Posted 17 days ago

#5✎ 119spaceturtlesVideo GamesI like to play video games!HobbiesAvatar BlockI didn't change my avatar for 30 days.WebsiteIntermediate ProgrammerI can make programs, but I still have trouble here and there. Programming StrengthYou can also use pmodem to transfer your graphics (sprites and what not) to your computer then create a "screenshot" of what the game would look like or some game art using an image editor like gimp or paint. For text games you just need the font.
Posted 17 days ago
Edited 17 days ago
by spaceturtles

Does anybody own a capture card? That could make screenshots for submissions?

The current news is that the next update of SB (3.7?) will contain a native screenshot feature. SmileBoom's tests indicate that it will use JPEG and have a similar (if not exact) quality to Miiverse, so they're probably leveraging a system API feature.
At any rate, there are far less expensive methods of obtaining screenshots, though perhaps less consistent, than a capture device.

When is this scheduled to come out? Source?
Posted 17 days ago

#7✎ 199PesticidePoisonGood PageHiddenAchievementsSpring 2017 Contest Runner UpI placed 2nd in the SmileBASIC Source Spring 2017 Contest!Programming ContestAvatar TabooI didn't change my avatar for 180 daysWebsiteJust get/use the Rosalina menu (With a 3DS that has CFW) to take screenshots. You definitely don't need to buy a capture card and pop open the 3DS and start smoldering stuff. Just hack it, it's cheaper and quicker. It's really easy, but if you don't think you can handle it, then you might be able to find someone in your area who can, check craigslist, I've seen ads before of people offering to hack it for $20.
(If you do have CFW, remember to just press (all at once) L + DOWN + SELECT to open the Rosalina menu, and then select "Take screenshot")
Posted 16 days ago

#8✎ 56SimeonScholarReceived for knowing a great deal about programming topicsAchievementsAmazing PageHiddenAchievementsDrawingI like to draw!Hobbies

Just get/use the Rosalina menu (With a 3DS that has CFW) to take screenshots.

Oh, I didn't know that existed! Thank you thank you
Posted 13 days ago

#9✎ 855snail_HelperReceived for being very helpful around SmileBASIC SourceAchievementsExpert ProgrammerProgramming no longer gives me any trouble. Come to me for help, if you like!Programming StrengthFirst DayJoined on the very first day of SmileBASIC SourceWebsitehttps://twitter.com/notohoho/status/971035860077563904
This tweet says that version 3.6 will be releasing next Wednesday (in Japan, one can assume) and it contains a screenshot function. Someone else can badger about an overseas update date, I hate using Twitter.
They also added one new function, CHKMML(). This function validates an MML string; it returns -1 if the string is valid MML, or the character index of the first MML error it finds. It's like INSTR(), but it looks for MML errors instead of text. Really good.
Posted 11 days ago
Edited 11 days ago
by snail_

#10✎ 119spaceturtlesVideo GamesI like to play video games!HobbiesAvatar BlockI didn't change my avatar for 30 days.WebsiteIntermediate ProgrammerI can make programs, but I still have trouble here and there. Programming Strength

https://twitter.com/notohoho/status/971035860077563904
This tweet says that version 3.6 will be releasing next Wednesday (in Japan, one can assume) and it contains a screenshot function. Someone else can badger about an overseas update date, I hate using Twitter.
They also added one new function, CHKMML(). This function validates an MML string; it returns -1 if the string is valid MML, or the character index of the first MML error it finds. It's like INSTR(), but it looks for MML errors instead of text. Really good.

Ooh that will definitely help a lot. Did they mention anything about bug fixes and how the screenshot will be output?
Posted 10 days ago

In the image data of DEFBG, the color of the edge of characters included in (0, 16) - (511, 47) was changed in Ver.3.5.2

seems like they fixed the unholy "some of the characters in the SYS tile GRP became transparent" bug
Posted 5 days ago
Edited 5 days ago
by snail_

#12✎ 134TheV360April Fool's 2017 Contest WinnerI won the SmileBASICSource April Fool's 2017 Contest!Programming ContestFirst DayJoined on the very first day of SmileBASIC SourceWebsiteNight PersonI like the quiet night and sleep late.Express YourselfI'm hyped for the v3.6.0! Hopefully it comes out tomorrow, since there's not really anything to translate.
Wait a minute...
Posted 5 days ago
Edited 4 days ago
by TheV360

#13✎ 56SimeonScholarReceived for knowing a great deal about programming topicsAchievementsAmazing PageHiddenAchievementsDrawingI like to draw!HobbiesThe update will be here really soon
The dev (@notohoho) responded to my Tweet saying
Regarding the US version and the EU version, the translation is over and the application is being prepared.
Please wait a moment as the screening will be delivered as soon as the screening is done!
Thank you for enjoying SmileBASIC.
https://twitter.com/notohoho/status/974038004846141440?s=09
Posted 5 days ago

#14✎ 140012Me21AdminSyntax HighlighterReceived for creating the code syntax highlighter on SBSNight PersonI like the quiet night and sleep late.Express YourselfSecond YearMy account is over 2 years oldWebsiteHopefully the start button lag isn't too unbearable...
I'll have to see what other people think before updating.
EDIT: also how did this become the 3.6 discussion thread?
Posted 4 days ago
Edited 4 days ago
by 12Me21

#15✎ 119spaceturtlesVideo GamesI like to play video games!HobbiesAvatar BlockI didn't change my avatar for 30 days.WebsiteIntermediate ProgrammerI can make programs, but I still have trouble here and there. Programming Strength

EDIT: also how did this become the 3.6 discussion thread?

When snail mentioned the update with the new screenshot function being relevant.
Posted 4 days ago

#16✎ 28ChangeVExpert ProgrammerProgramming no longer gives me any trouble. Come to me for help, if you like!Programming StrengthStaff Pick"Your program is one of our favorites!" - StaffAchievementsI updated Japanese Smile BASIC to ver 3.6.0 this evening.
The game screen shot and editor can be captured with single SELECT button press.(holding SELECT will capture 1 screen shot)
Both upper and lower screen shot are saved separately as compressed JPG format on SD card (DCIM folder)
(by the way, SELECT button capture doesn't work on TOP MENU screen.)
Here is screen shot of my (gasp!) Slime Vs Ninja ver 2!!!
Use zoom-in feature in your favorite picture editor to see JPEG compression.
If lower screen is not used, black picture is saved.
Here is new CHKMML command
It points out the position of error in MML.(it returns -1 if there is no error)
START button starts program instantly.
When ptogram is running, hold the START button about 0.5 second to stop the program.
0.5 second seems too short, but it may prevent accidental quitting.
No more accidental quitting now. Yay!
BUTTON() command returns 1024 when SELECT button is pressed.(but at the same time, it saves current screen shot to SD card.)
START button can't be detected by BUTTON command at all.
Here is Nisetro capture card screen shot.
use it to compare with above JPG screen shot.
When Select button is pressed, lower screen shows the spinning saving/loading icon.
Posted 3 days ago

#17✎ 855snail_HelperReceived for being very helpful around SmileBASIC SourceAchievementsExpert ProgrammerProgramming no longer gives me any trouble. Come to me for help, if you like!Programming StrengthFirst DayJoined on the very first day of SmileBASIC SourceWebsiteNice, screenshots seem to be of comparable quality to Miiverse, if not better. About half a second seems alright for the START delay.
I find it weird that they didn't make the START delay slightly longer and allow you to read it from BUTTON() instead of SELECT. I can only assume they did this for compatibility. Since every press takes a screenshot I can't imagine detecting SELECT will ever be useful.
Is it fast to take a screenshot?
Posted 3 days ago
Edited 3 days ago
by snail_

#18✎ 56SimeonScholarReceived for knowing a great deal about programming topicsAchievementsAmazing PageHiddenAchievementsDrawingI like to draw!HobbiesAwesome!
But it kinda sucks that it's JPEG and not PNG
Posted 3 days ago

#19✎ 855snail_HelperReceived for being very helpful around SmileBASIC SourceAchievementsExpert ProgrammerProgramming no longer gives me any trouble. Come to me for help, if you like!Programming StrengthFirst DayJoined on the very first day of SmileBASIC SourceWebsiteYou could use this technique to measure the exact time required to hold the START button:
Put this code in the editor and start it. Then, hold START and some other button (preferably not A, since that's also Enter) until the program quits. The last number is the time in milliseconds you have to hold START until it exits.
VAR M%
WHILE TRUE
IF BUTTON() THEN
IF M% THEN
?MILLISEC-M%
ELSE
M%=MILLISEC
ENDIF
ELSE
M%=0
ENDIF
WEND
Posted 3 days ago

#20✎ 28ChangeVExpert ProgrammerProgramming no longer gives me any trouble. Come to me for help, if you like!Programming StrengthStaff Pick"Your program is one of our favorites!" - StaffAchievementshere is result from old 3DS
here is result from new 3DS
both are around 250 milliseconds.
also, I was holding R button and spammed SELECT
and got several screen shots. 940 -> 3047 -> 5187
it seems saving screen shot takes about 2100 milliseconds on old 3DS
and got 490 -> 2345 -> 4083 -> 5838 on new 3DS.
about 1700 milliseconds on new 3DS.
also, saving causes slight delay on old 3DS.
Posted 3 days ago